Home Remedies for Slipped Disk

Slipped Disk Overview

The disks are protective shock-absorbing pads between the bones of the spine. Although they do not actually "slip," a disk may split or rupture. This can cause the disk to fail, allowing the gel to escape into the surrounding tissue. The leaking jellylike substance can place pressure on the spinal cord or on a single nerve fiber and cause pain either around the damaged disk or anywhere along the area controlled by that nerve. This condition is also known as a herniated, ruptured, prolapsed, or, more commonly, slipped disk.

 

The most frequently affected area is the low back, but any disk can rupture, including those in the neck.

Slipped Disk Causes

Factors that lead to injury from a slipped disk include aging with associated degeneration and loss of elasticity of the discs and supporting structures; improper lifting, especially if accompanied by twisting or turning; and excessive strain. Sudden forceful trauma is a more rare cause.

Slipped Disk Symptoms

The nerves of the body exit the spine at each spinal level. A herniated disk can therefore produce symptoms anywhere along the course of that nerve, though the injury and irritation of the nerve are at the spine itself (this is known as referred pain). A slipped disk can produce varying degrees of pain in the back or neck along with numbness or weakness.

·         For slipped disks in the neck - Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the shoulder, neck, arm, or hand

·         For slipped disks in the lower back

·         Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the buttocks, back, legs, or feet

·         Numbness and tingling around the anus or genitals

·         Pain down the back of each leg from the buttocks to the knee (this is called sciatica)

·         Pain with movement, straining, coughing, or doing leg raises

·         Difficulty controlling bowel movements or bladder function

When to Seek Medical Care

You should consult with your doctor for any back pain significant enough to limit activity, any back pain that lasts more than a few days, or any back pain associated with numbness or weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or abdominal or chest pain. The doctor may suggest an urgent office evaluation or may advise you to go to the hospital's emergency department for evaluation.

 

Any injury that may suggest more significant back or neck problems, such as a fall from a height or a direct blow to the spine, should be evaluated at the hospital's emergency department. Consider calling 911 for an ambulance. Medical teams can immobilize the spine and protect against further damage.

You should also seek emergency evaluation if the pain or symptoms are severe enough to prevent you from walking, are associated with severe numbness or weakness of any extremity, are associated with loss of bowel or bladder control, or are associated symptoms not readily explained by the spine problem (such as fever, abdominal pain, or chest pain).

Exams and Tests

The doctor will take a complete medical history and perform a physical examination.

·         This history should include other illnesses, prior spine problems, any injuries, duration and type of symptoms, and response to treatments. The examination should include a spine examination, testing of basic nerve functions, an abdominal examination, and a general screening.

·         Often no diagnostic tests are needed for adequate treatment. In certain cases, imaging studies or laboratory tests of blood and urine may provide your doctor further information necessary to establish an adequate diagnosis. If needed at all, they may not be necessary immediately. Sometimes they are ordered later if basic treatments fail to improve your condition.

·         If imaging studies are taken, they are often one of the following:

·         Plain x-rays (and even CT scans) cannot depict a prolapsed disk and can only identify bony abnormalities. These x-rays are best used to evaluate back pain that is from causes other than a prolapsed disk, such as bony displacement, tumor, or broken bone. Most young or middle-aged people without a history to suggest trauma or tumor are best served without the expense and radiation associated with obtaining these x-rays. In most cases, the bones seen on x-ray are normal.

·         More specialized tests include an MRI or myelogram (which includes injecting dye into the spinal column) of the back. These are better for diagnosing a prolapsed disk and the way the specific nerve is affected. In the absence of signs or symptoms suggesting severe nerve damage, however, these studies are very rarely indicated or ordered early in the course of the evaluation. This is because of cost, availability of the test, and the fact that the findings rarely affect initial treatment decisions. Your doctor may obtain these tests after a course of treatment fails to provide you relief.

·         Bone scans can detect infection, healing fractures, or tumors. This test is essentially never ordered as part of an emergency evaluation and generally needs to be arranged by your doctor in advance.

Slipped Disk Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Minor cases can be handled at home in consultation with your doctor. Treatment will likely include application of hot or cold packs, limited activity (although strict bed rest is not generally advised), and basic pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). As your condition improves, specific back stretching or strengthening exercises may be suggested.

Medical Treatment

The doctor often prescribes bed rest or limited activity for several days followed by gradual increase in activity over the next few weeks. Strict bed rest is generally no longer advised because people with back pain have been shown to recover more quickly with normal activity as long as lifting, bending, and strain are limited.

Treat with ice or cold packs early after an injury and switch to heat later. Heat may be used early if the pain and symptoms are not caused by a sudden injury.

Physical therapy, exercise, and massage can be helpful if indicated (always check with your doctor before resuming any stressful activity).

Medications

Ibuprofen (Motrin) or other anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended. These can be safely taken with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Medicines to relax the surrounding muscle tightness and spasms are used for some people. A short course of a medical steroid (similar to cortisone) also may be used. Rarely is the use of a prescription narcotic medication needed for more than a couple of days, if needed at all.

Surgery

If these measures are not successful within a reasonable time and the tests confirm a herniated disk as the source of symptoms, surgery may be considered. Except in extreme cases or in those that have a high potential for permanent nerve damage, surgery is no longer considered early in a case. Often, time and basic spine care resolve most cases. Several surgical options exist. Your doctor will refer you to a spine specialist to discuss which option is best for you and what the likelihood of success will be.

Next Steps

Follow-up

Follow your instructions carefully and do not attempt to skip steps in your care or overexert yourself too soon. Your initial treatment plan may need to be extended or modified based on your response to the treatment.

Prevention

·         Regular exercise can decrease hardening and early breakdown of the disks, as well as improve the overall strength and tone of the supporting muscles and structures.

·         Use proper techniques while performing strenuous exercise and strenuous work, including lifting. Lifting should be done with the legs performing the work, not the back. The worst possible combination of activities for your spine is heavy lifting while bending and twisting at the same time.

·         Use of a spine brace during heavy lifting may be advised. Its proper use is to keep your back straight and encourage proper lifting technique. It should not be used as a substitute for proper technique or to encourage you to exceed safe lifting limits.

Outlook

The vast majority of disk problems improve without any surgery. Most people are able to return to normal function (with emphasis on protecting the spine from recurrent or new injury) within a short time. It is not unusual for similar symptoms to return in the future, however.

Synonyms and Keyword

Ruptured disk, disk protrusion, herniated disk, prolapsed disk, degenerative disc disease, slipped disk

Authors and Editors

Author: Shahram Lotfipour, MD, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pomona Valley Medical Center.

Coauthor(s): Dorris Powell, MD, Senior Consulting Staff, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital.

Editors: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM, Research Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Thomas Rebbecchi, MD, FAAEM, Program Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/slipped_disk/article_em.htm

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Natural Remedies for a Slipped Disc

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Serrapeptase is a natural remedy for all types of injuries and has been found to relieve inflammation and pain and speed healing - an excellent supplement for a slipped disc. 

Organic Silicon is best regarded as a general healing tonic, since it appears to facilitate a general healing response and move the body towards a more naturally balanced state. Organic Silicon was initially developed to treat arthritis and psoriasis, and as such has helped to relieve pain and inflammation for many thousands of sufferers.

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Source: Home Remedies for SLIPPED DISK